Game board package



Oct. 6, 1964 E. HAECKER 3,151,741

GAME BOARD PACKAGE Filed May 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GJ F/G-Z lllllllllli IN VEN TOR.

1964 E. HAECKER 3,151,741

GAME BOARD PACKAGE 7 Filed mm 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v mms'sr HAEO'fE/P BY 6mm, M W

ATTORNEYS- United States Patent 3,151,741 GAME BDARD PACKAGE Ernest Haecker, 1415 N. 31st St, Philadelphia 23, Fa. Filed May 25, 1962, Ser. No. 197,664 9 Claims. (Cl. 266-7S) This invention relates to package constructions and particularly to a package for an article such as a game board in which the article is presented to the viewer as an integral part of the package and is in full view.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 7,716, filed February 9, 1960, now Patent No. 3,036,705.

In packaging an article that is colorful and interesting in shape it is desirable to present the article to best advantage by displaying its attractive and distinctive features. An example of such an article is a dart board game, in which the dart board itself is a large disc with colorful rings and other shapes on its face. The darts are also colorful and have distinctive shapes that are associated with the game by all who know it.

A package for such an article should desirably display the article itself to the view of a purchaser thereof and, at the same time, be serviceable for protecting the article and for handling it conveniently.

Another desirable feature of such a package is that it be self-contained and complete so that it may be carried by a purchaser without wrapping or tying. The surfaces of the package may lend themselves to colorful printing for identification of the article and of its manufacturer, and for instructions or the like. Also, the packaging should be sturdy and yet economical in manufacture, and be convenient to handle in assembling the package and article.

In my prior application Serial No. 7,716 I disclosed and claimed a display package comprising in combination a paper board member having a front section and a rear section, said front section being provided with a plurality of openings therethrough corresponding in size and shape to a dart board and darts, a preformed transparent member placed between the front and rear sections and having projections thereon which extend through said openings, and a dart board and darts placed within said transparent member and in between said member and said rear section of the paper board member.

It is thus seen that in my prior package the dart board and darts were always in view and were protected by the transparent member having the preformed receptacles therein.

The game board package of the instant invention provides a distinct improvement over my previous game board package.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved game board package.

It is another object of this invention to provde an improved package construction for displaying the features of an article attractively.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved package construction wherein the displayed articles are completely protected from dust and dirt.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved package construction for displaying articles of difierent shapes that is a complete package in itself, and does not require further wrapping or tying.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a package comprising a paper board member having a front section and a rear section, said front section having "ice a plurality of openings therethrough corresponding in size and shape to a dart board and a plurality of darts, a dart board and a plurality of darts being positioned within the respective openings, said darts having a transparent covering thereover which conforms in size and shape to said darts, said transparent covering holding said darts within said package, said dart board being completely enveloped by a taut, transparent shrink film, and means for securing said dart board to said package.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the cardboard member forming the foundation of the package of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a modification of the dart receptacle of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, an improved game board package embodying the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 5, package 10 basically comprises a stiff cardboard member 12, an article to be packaged, such as dart board 14, a fiemble transparent sheet 16, and a plurality of darts 18.

Member 12 may be formed of corrugated cardboard, and it includes two leaf sections 20 and a center section 22. The leaf sections 20 are half the width of center section 22 and are foldable along scored lines 24 to meet in back of the center section (FIG. 2).

The center section has a central opening 26 which is the same shape as, and slightly larger than, the dart board 14. A plurality of small elongated openings 28 having bulbous ends corresponding generally to the outline shape of the darts 18 is also provided in center section 22.

A C-shaped cut 30 (FIG. 1) forms a D-shaped flap 32 near the top central portion of section 22. D-shaped flap 32 is free to pivot around score line 34. Notches 35, cut in the side edges of leaf sections 20 near the top thereof, meet when the leaf sections are folded back to form a D- shaped opening that corresponds in shape and location to the flap 32.

It is thus seen that the cardboard member of this invention can be identical to that used in my previous invention embodied in application Serial No. 7,716. Therefore, this member is interchangeable with either completed package.

Dart board 14 is completely enveloped in a sealed transparent plastic film 36. It should be noted that the film also envelopes V-shaped suspension bail 38 hinged at the top of board 16. This film is of the type generally known in the art as a shrink film. This shrink film can be made of many different synthetic plastics. Included among them are polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride. The one property that they all have in common is that when heat is applied, they shrink in size to tightly envelope the article contained within them.

In a specific embodiment the dart board 14 is placed on a film of polyvinyl chloride. The film is then folded in half so that both lateral surfaces of the dart board are covered. The two halves are then heat sealed along their three open edges, thereby completely sealing the dart board therein. The sealed dart board is then passed through an oven heated to 300 Fahrenheit on a conveyor belt. The total time of travel of the dart board is about two seconds. However, during this time the polyvinyl chloride film will shrink to tightly cling to the dart board sealed therein. The resultant film presents a smooth, clear surface on the dart board.

In assembling the dart package of this invention a layer of air drying adhesive 40 is applied to. the rear surface of center section 22 across the entire lower half thereof. This adhesive surface completely surrounds elongated openings 28 (FIG. Flexible resilient transparent sheet 16 is then applied on top of adhesive surface 40. This sheet 16 can be made of the same materials as shrink film 36. After. sheet 16 has adhered to the adhesive 40, the darts 18 are then forced into said sheet. In view of the resilient nature of the sheet, the forcing of the darts is a relatively simple matter. As seen in FIG. 6, the wings or fins 42 of the darts protrude into the plastic and cause the plastic to assume an M-shape. Pins 42 arepreferably made of colored plastic, so they are not. destroyed by the resiliency of the film. The setting of the darts in this manner prevents the rotation thereof. As further seen in FIG. 6, the shank portions 44 of the darts also protrude into the plastic. These shank portions are preferably made of brass or a similar metal.

When the darts are in place, the two leaves 20 are then folded together in back of them and are secured in place by means of staples 46 (FIG. 2). If desired, a suitable adhesive can be used to aid in this securement. The fiap 32 is hinged back through the mated notches 35 and secured in place by means of a staple 48. After the package has been assembled as described above, the dart board 14 is then inserted through opening 26. The dart board is secured in place by first applying a layer of adhesive 49 to the inner surface of leaves 20 adjacent opening 26. The dart board having the shrink film thereon is then forced against the adhesive 49 and is held securely in place by said adhesive. If desired,'a pair of staples 50 can be inserted through leaves 20 and into the dart board to insure complete securement. However, in most cases the adhesive alone will guarantee adequate securement.

If desired, the covered dart board can be glued to the package before the film is shrunk. In this case, both the film on the board and that covering the darts will be shrunk simultaneously when the package is passed through the oven.

Virtually any adhesive can be used in carrying out this invention. A particular adhesive which is used is a rosin base, water-soluble adhesive. It dries to a transparent state in about ten minutes, and adaquately secures the shrink film to the cardboard backing. Other water soluble adhesives that may be used are gum arabic and casein.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown an alternative embodiment of a means for holding the darts in place. In this embodiment a transparent receptacle member 52 is provided for the darts. This member includes a plurality of receptacle portions 54 which are identical in size and spacing to elongated openings 28 in center section 22. Receptacle portions 54 have bulbous portions 56 at one end thereof corresponding to the outline of the feather portions of the darts 18. These bulbous portions have an M-shaped cross-section which is similar to that shown in FIG. 6. The remainder of each receptacle 54 is generally semi-circular in cross-section, corresponding to the round shank of the dart 18. In assembling the package with receptacle members 52, a pair of such members is used.

As noted in FIG. 7, each member 52 has three receptacles therein. After adhesive 40 is applied to center section 22, as seen in FIG. 5, the receptacle member 52 is placed against said adhesive, with the receptacle protruding through openings 28. After the darts are placed in the receptacles, the package is completed as outlined above.

The package thus formed is effective to display its contents in full. The construction of both the face and the periphery of the dart board 14 are visible, as are the darts 18. The varied shapes of the packaged articles are present to view both in outline and in depth. The colors and design of the articles are likewise displayed. Moreover, the three-dimensional character of the packaged receptacles lends itself to be touched as well as viewed.

The package is complete and self-contained even to the handle, and no wrapping or tying is needed. The packaged articles are full protected even though on display.

The package of the instant invention possesses many advantages over the package disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 7,716. In the first place, the cost of the shrink film is approximately onetenth of the pre-molded transparent receptacle. Also the instant package permits the covering of the dart board in advance and the application of the dart board to the finished package at a later date. Approximately a 40% saving in time results from making the instant package as opposed to my previous package. Further, when using the pre-molded transparent plastic, an inventory of said members must be maintained for each size dart board being sealed. Using the instant package, this inventory is unnecessary.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For instance, member 12 may be formed of two sections, the first similar to center section 22 and the second corresponding to the leaves 2%. The second section would be folded in back of the first and fastened thereto along the edges. It :is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A package comprising a paper board member having a front section and a rear section, said front section having a pluralityof openings therethrough corresponding in size and shape to a dart board and a plurality of darts, a dart board and a plurality of darts being positioned within the respective openings, said darts having a transparent covering thereover which conforms in size and shape to said darts, said transparent covering holding said darts within said package, said dart board being completely enveloped by a taut transparent shrunk plastic fihn, said plastic film covering only said dart board with said transparent covering being separate from said film, and means for securing said dart board to said package.

2. The package ofclaim 1 wherein the transparent covering over said darts is interposed between said front and rear sections, with the portions covering said darts protruding through said front section openings.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein said transparent covering comprises a resilient plastic film.

4. The package of claim 2 wherein said transparent covering comprises a pre-molded plastic receptacle.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein said receptable has bulbous portions with M-shaped cross-sections for bolding the feathered portions of said darts, thereby'preventing rotation of said darts.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein the means for securing said dart board to said package comprises an adhesive.

5 6 7. The package of claim 6 wherein a plurality of staples References Cited in the file of this patent passing through said rear section and into said dart board ST P additionally secured said dart board to said package.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein said front section galbot :2 2? has a flap centrally cut therein near the upper edge there- 5 2757793 n i 1956 of, and said rear section has an opening therein to receive 3061091 i fi g 5 1962 23152) Iilap when said rear section 1s folded in covering po- 1 64,402 Crane NOV. 1962 9. The package of claim 8 wherein said rear section includes a plurality of leaves, said leaves having notches 10 OTHER REFERENCES in the edges thereof forming said opening to receive said Modem Packaging Encyclopedla 1959,

fl p. 308, Machine Mfg. Corp. (Copy in Group 460.) 

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A PAPER BOARD MEMBER HAVING A FRONT SECTION AND A REAR SECTION, SAID FRONT SECTION HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THERETHROUGH CORRESPONDING IN SIZE AND SHAPE TO A DART BOARD AND A PLURALITY OF DARTS, A DART BOARD AND A PLURALITY OF DARTS BEIGN POSITIONED WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE OPENINGS, SAID DARTS HAVING A TRANSPARENT COVERING THEREOVER WHICH CONFORMS IN SIZE AND SHAPE TO SAID DARTS, SAID TRANSPARENT COVERING HOLDING SAID DARTS WITHIN SAID PACKAGE, SAID DART BOARD BEING COMPLETELY ENVELOPED BY A TAUT TRANSPARENT SHRUNK PLASTIC FILM, SAID PLASTIC FILM COVERING ONLY SAID DART BOARD 